towards better understanding and using english proverbs = hướng tới việc hiểu và sử dụng tục ngữ tiếng anh tốt hơn

10010016
VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES



NGUYỄN THỊ BÍCH TRANG

TOWARDS BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND USING
ENGLISH PROVERBS

HƯỚNG TỚI VIỆC HIỂU VÀ SỬ DỤNG TỤC NGỮ TIẾNG ANH
TỐT HƠN



M.A. thesis – program I


Field: english linguistics
Code: 602215



Hanoi, 2008


VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI
UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES
FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES





NGUYỄN THỊ BÍCH TRANG

TOWARDS BETTER UNDERSTANDING AND USING
ENGLISH PROVERBS

HƯỚNG TỚI VIỆC HIỂU VÀ SỬ DỤNG TỤC NGỮ TIẾNG ANH
TỐT HƠN



M.A. thesis – program I


Field: english linguistics
Code: 602215
Supervisor: Assoc.Prof.Dr Phan Văn Quế


Hanoi, 2008



THE TABLE OF CONTENTS


Page

PART A: INTRODUCTION
01

1. Rationale
01

2. Objectives of the study
02

3. Scope of the study
02

4. Methods of the study
02

4.1. Strategic method
02

4.2. Tackling methods
02

4.3. Supporting methods
03
PART B: DEVELOPMENT
04
Chapter I: Literature Review
04

I.1. Origin of proverbs
04

I.2. Definitions of proverbs
04

I.2.1. Introduction
04

I.2.2. The definition of proverbs in the literature
05

I.2.2.1. An open or implied denial of the possibility of defining proverbs
05

I.2.2.2. A proverb is identical with its text
06

I.2.2.3. More complex definitions
06

I.2.3. A proposed definition
09

I.2.3.1. The necessary and sufficient conditions of a proverb definition
09

I.2.3.2. The proposed definition
11

I.2.4. The main types of proverbs
12

I.2.5. A note on the content of proverbs
12

I.3. Differences between proverbs and other related terms
13

I.3.1. Differences between proverbs and idioms
13

I.3.1.1. Content
13

I.3.1.2. Function
13

I.3.2. Differences between “proverbs” and “ca dao”
14

I.4. Characteristics of proverbs
15

I.4.1. Forms
15

I.4.2. Content
16

I.4.3. Function
16

Chapter II: Factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using
English proverbs
19

II.1. Difference in culture
19

II.1.1. Definitions of culture
19

II.1.2. Differences between English culture and Vietnamese culture
19

II.2. Differences in using metaphor in English and Vietnamese proverbs
21

II.2.1. English and Vietnamese animal system in proverbs in comparison
22

II.2.1.1. Animal components in English
22

II.2.1.2. Animal components in Vietnamese
22

II.2.1.3. Animal components in Vietnamese and English in common
23

II.2.1.4. Animal components existing only in English
24

II.2.1.5. Animal components existing only in Vietnamese
25

II.3. Difference in rhythm and rhyme
27

II.3.1. Rhythm
27

A. Rhythm of English proverbs
28

1. Factors creating rhythm
28

2. Types of rhythm
28

3. Function of rhythm
31

B. Rhythm of Vietnamese proverbs
31

1. Factors creating rhythm
31

1.1. “âm vực”
31

1.2. “âm điệu” (or tune)
31

2. Types of rhythm
33

3. Function of rhythm
35

3.1. Grammatical function
35

3.2. Meaning-expressing function
35

3.3. Poetic function
35

II.3.2. Rhyme of proverbs
36

II.3.2.1. Factors creating rhyme
36

II.3.2.1.1. The repetition phenomena
36

II.3.2.1.1.1. English proverbs
36

II.3.2.1.1.2. Vietnamese proverbs
38

II.4. Difficulties in translating English proverbs into Vietnamese ones
40
Chapter III: Implications towards better proverb translation
46

III.1. How to translate English proverbs into Vietnamese ones
successfully
46

III.2. Vietnamese equivalent can be found
46

III.3. Vietnamese equivalent cannot be found
48

III.3.1. We can add or omit words to create rhyme ( rhyme in succession,
rhyme in separation, relative rhyme or perfect rhyme)
48

III.3.2. Creating rhyme by repeating words
49

III.3.3. The proverb can be translated into a Vietnamese six-eight meter
49

III.3.4. Creating two equal, parallel clause

50

III.3.5. Making tone symmetrical
51
PART C: CONCLUSION
53
PART D: BIBLIOGRAPHY
54






PART A:
INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale
English has become an international language. That is the truth that cannot
be denied. As people all over the world wish to get closer and closer, English has
shown its great function as a great bridge of communication. Mastering English
means not only the ability to speak English fluently but also the necessity of
having a full and perfect knowledge of English culture, history, lifestyle…the
shortest way to access and gain these knowledge, surely, is to get to know
English proverbs. As clearly known, proverb is one of the most ancient kinds of
Folklore which contain many distinguishing features of each nation in the world.
In Vietnamese, „„proverbs are the sayings of people, a treasure of various
and „„live‟‟ expressing forms that the labor class as well as many other different
classes in society use to express their attract ideas, their deep thoughts of life.
(Chu Xuan Dien- Vietnamese proverbs)
In English, “Proverbs are so much the common property of all English

men that in conversation, it is often enough to repeat just the beginning of a
proverb, the rest is easily supplied by the other calculators‟‟ (W.J. Ball-
Conversational English)
Understanding English proverbs, therefore, helps us understand more
clearly about a nation, about its culture, history…Furthermore, exploring,
comparing and contrasting proverbs in native as well as in target language will
surely bring about a treasure of valuable knowledge and a more convenient
condition for foreign language learning process.
However, understanding and using English proverbs effectively is very
difficult for many reasons: differences in culture and history, poor background
knowledge of learners, techniques and strategies in studying proverbs…
These ideas give me a tremendous impetus to implement the study
„Towards better understanding and using English proverbs’’. This study is
an investigation into factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using
English proverbs. As an investigation, it brings insights into some of the most
common factors which, to some extents, hinder learners from mastering English
proverbs. Hopefully, this study will bring considerable effective contributions to
better understanding and using English proverbs. In my view, the sooner learners
can start to enjoy English proverbs in their new language, the better.
2. Objectives of the study
The objective of this study is to find out some common factors leading to
difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs.
3. Scope of the study
As there so many factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using
English proverbs, the study by no means investigates all factors concerned. Some
of factors are not included in this study. They are omitted simply because of
limitations of time, necessary, qualified and reliable resources, and of course the
knowledge of mine. Furthermore, exploring and mastering English proverbs is
quite a large field, I, therefore, limit my study in a smaller one “Towards better
understanding and using English proverbs’’. My study only looks for some

very main and common factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using
English proverbs. In addition, the study is confined to the context of
understanding and using English proverbs in Vietnam. The problems discussed in
the study may be irrelevant or inappropriate in other contexts.
4. Methods of the study
During the implementation of the study “Towards better understanding
and using English proverbs‟‟, three main following kinds of methods were
employed: strategic methods, tackling methods and supporting methods. Let‟s
have a look at these methods respectively.
4.1. Strategic method
The strategic method contains inductive methods. As for inductive
method, facts and figures which were relevant and essential for better
understanding and using English proverbs were collected carefully and analyzed
thoroughly in order to draw common factors leading to difficulties in
understanding and using English proverbs.
4.2. Tackling methods
On the way to realize and decide the objectives of the study, I also
employed a number of tackling methods namely description, classification,
statistics, analysis and syntheses of data. Facts, figures and also examples
illustrated for English proverbs were fully described and classified and then I put
them directly into the analyzing and synthesizing process. The results of the data
analysis, synthesis and findings have helped me draw some factors leading to
difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs.
4.3. Supporting methods
Supporting methods consist of references to publication, personal
observations and consultant to my supervisor, teachers and friends.
Reading materials relating to English proverbs and observing the facts
have provided me with insights into the common factors
Most important of all, I kept regular contact with my supervisor-Dr Phan
Van Que-His invaluable assistance and guidance helped me much to understand

more clearly about the study and my task. I also consulted my friends in my
university and in some other universities. Discussion with them helped me
improve the feasibility and practicality of the study.


















PART B: DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER I:
LITERATURE REVIEW

The theoretical background and review of related literature will be
discussed under three subheadings: (I.1) Origin of proverbs, (I.2) Definitions of
proverbs, (I.3) Characteristics of proverbs
I.1. Origin of proverbs
“Where do proverbs come from?” is a question which is certainly still in

the forefront of debate today, yet, it remains controversial and no one can answer
for sure. Thus, it is no easy task to clearly point out the origin of proverbs. I,
therefore, propose accepting what many researchers in some most well-
researched books agree.
According to Vietnamese authors, there are two theories about the
occurrence of proverbs.
 The first theory: Proverbs were composed by poets.
 The second theory: Proverbs were created by unknown folk authors.
We can see clearly that the number of proverbs created by folk authors
outweighs the number of proverbs composed by poets if these two theories are
true.
According to English authors, there are three theories about the occurrence
of proverbs.
 The first theory: an excellent man spoke and spread the words to the
general people
 The second theory: Old people who decided morals and virtues created
proverbs.
 The third theory generally: Proverbs began that we stipulate the act of daily
life from our experience and proverbs are useful to each of culture and
social education.
The truth is still not known, but the third theory seems the most appropriate.
I.2. Definitions of proverbs
I.2.1. Introduction:
The collection of proverbs dates back to millennia, to Sumerian cuneiform
tablets, and the theory of proverbs has also a long history. Many papers have
been published e.g. on the origin, definition, use, classification, structure,
language, logic, meaning of proverbs etc. In this paper some aspects of the
definition of proverbs will be dealt with and some notes on the main types and
content of proverbs will be presented.
I.2.2. The definition of proverbs in the literature

In the corresponding papers many definitions can be found. Professor
Mieder in one of his papers with admitted overstatement- puts that “We can
almost state that there are more definition attempts than there are proverbs”
(Mieder 1989, p.13.)
In the 12
th
century, Mathieu de Vend«me (quoted by Bautier 1984) wrote
“A proverb is a popular phrase, accredited by custom accepted by the general
opinion, expressing a truth that has been proved genuine”.
In 1932, Bertlett Jere Whiting gave the following description: “A proverb is
an expression which, owing its birth to people, testifies its origin in form and
phrase. It expresses what is apparently a fundamental truth, - that is a truism- in
homely language, often adorned, however, with alliteration and rhyme. It is
usually short, but need not to be; it is usually true but need not to be. Some
proverbs have both literal and figurative meaning, either of which makes perfect
sense; but more often they have but one of the two. A proverb must be venerable;
it must bear the sign of antiquity, and, since such signs may be counterfeited by a
clever literary man, it should be attested in different places and different times.”
(Whiting 1932. p. 302)
Many previous definitions are listed in Whiting‟s mentioned paper, in the
book of Lutz Rohrich and Wolfgang Mieder (Rohrich-Mieder 1972). 55
“popular” definitions have been collected by Wolfgang Mieder in 1985 and the
recent paper of Peter Barta should also be mentioned in this context. (Barta 1995)
If a classification of the proverb definitions is attempted, the following
main categories can be distinguished.
I.2.2.1. An open or implied denial of the possibility of defining proverbs
Archer Taylor states that “The definition of a proverb is too difficult to
repay the undertaking… an incommunicable quality tells us this sentence is
proverbial and that other is not”. (Taylor 1931)
Needless to say, such an incommunicable quality does not exist. In 1996,

during a discussion of the Tokyo International Proverb Forum, professor Mieder
mentioned that Archer Taylor has probably considered it a joke. Unfortunately, it
has been taken seriously and is quoted over and over again, as it was done in
Tokyo too. It might be enough to mention that not a mysterious
“incommunicable quality”, but – among other- the currency decides that a
sentence is a proverb or not. If we change only one word, e.g. the word “gold” in
the English proverb “All that glitters is not gold” to diamond, then it is not an
English proverb any more, although all the so-called “makers” would indicate it
as such. Its currency is zero, it is not told so in this form.
Matti Kuusi‟s well-known statement that the proverbs are “documenta
humana” belongs to the same category: Thus the proverbs are defined by an
undefined term, implying the possibility of defining proverbs.
Malcolm Jones openly proposes a tautology involving an implied
possibility of definition: “I shall take refuge in the tautology that a proverb is an
expression we recognize as a proverbial”.
I.2.2.2. A proverb is identical with its text
Some examples:
 “A proverb is a short sentence of wisdom”. (quoted by Mieder 1989. p.15)
 “A proverb is a standard statement of moral and colloquial imperatives in
fixed metaphorical paradigmatic form, it deals with fundamental logical
relationships”. (Barley 1972. p.741)
 “A proverb is a general statement or judgement, explaining, classifying or
assessing a situation”. (Harald Burger, quoted by W. Mieder 1877. p.2)
 “A traditional propositional statement consisting of at least one descriptive
element consisting of a topic and a comment”. (Dundes 1975)
 “Proverbs are popular fixed sentences expressing a rule of conduct or a
wisdom in a vivid, short form” (Rohrich-Mieder 1977. p.2)
It has, however, been pointed out repeatedly that e.g. “two major
ingredients… traditionality and currency should be part of any definition”.
(Mieder 1996. p.597) The importance of the implied general meaning (general

idea) was stressed by Matti Kuusi (Kuusi 1996) and Vilmos Voigt (Voigt 1970).
The implied scope and limitation of application has been mentioned before
(Paczolay 1996. p.282).
I.2.2.3. More complex definitions
In addition to the definition of Whiting given previously, as examples some
definitions are mentioned that include several, sometimes frequent, but not
absolutely necessary characteristics, like poetic form, while important ones, like
currency or the absence of a known author are missing. Some examples: “A short
pithy saying in common and recognized use, a concise sentence often
metaphorical or alliterative in form, which is held to express some truth
ascertained by experience or observation familiar to all, an adage, a wise saw”.
(Whiting 1932)
 “A proverb is a popular set phrase having no author, known mostly in
different languages, expressing in one sentence a principle, advice, a genuine
or assumed truth in a general, concise form, its basic idea being of general
validity, or at least its user considers it as such”. (O. Nagy 1979. p.645)
A proverb is a stereotype linguistic entity expressing a fixed idea. On the
linguistic level it is an artistic picture, on the level of ideas a judgement. As a
work of art of folklore it belongs to the secondary semiotic systems. It is a
communication system with a double code, a carrier of information at the
level of language, but at the same time the information carries another content
too, becoming an instrument of poetic expression. (Voo 1989)
Proverbs are short, generally known sentences of the folk that contain
wisdom, truths, morals, and traditional views in a metaphorical, fixed and
memorizable form and that are handed down orally from generation to
generation. (Mieder 1996. p.597 )
A short well-known sentence or phrase that states a general truth about life
or gives advice. (A. S. Hornby- Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary of
current English- Oxford University Press- 1995)
A proverb is a short sentence that people often quote and that gives advice or

tells you something about human life and problems in general. (Collins
Cobuild- English Language Dictionary- Collins London & Glasgow- 1988)
Proverb: a short, well-known, supposedly wise, saying usually in simple
language. (Longman Dictionary of English Language and Culture- Addison
Wesley Longman- 1986)
Proverb: a short pithy saying in common use; especially one with a moral.
(Westers new dictionary)
Proverb: a short popular saying of unknown authorship, expressing some
general truth or superstition. Proverbs are found in most cultures and are often
are very ancient. (The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Literature Terms- Chris
Baldick- Oxford University Press- 1991)
Proverb is a short sentence that people often quote, which gives advice or
comments on life. (BBC English Dictionary- Harper Collins Publishers
1992)
Proverb: a short and memorable saying which expresses a piece of
experience, often in vivid language. (A Students Dictionary of Language
and Linguistics- R. L. Trask 1997- Oxford University Press Inc.)
Tục ngữ là những câu nói ngắn, gọn, có ý nghĩa hàm
súc, do nhân dân lao động sáng tạo nên và l-u truyền
qua nhiều thế kỷ. (Đinh Gia Khánh & Chu Xuân Diên-
Văn học dân gian- NXB Đại học và trung học chuyên
nghiệp- 1991)
Literally translated: Proverbs are short sayings, rich in meaning,
created by working people and passed down from generation to
generation.
Tục ngữ là thể loại văn học dân gian nhằm đúc kết
kinh nghiệm, tri thức, nêu lên những nhận xét, phán
đoán, lời khuyên răn của nhân dân d-ới hình thức
những câu nói ngắn gọn, giản dị, súc tích, có nhịp
điệu, dễ nhớ, dễ truyền. (Hoàng Tiến Tựu- Văn học

dân gian Việt Nam- Tập II- NXB Giáo dục- 1990)
Literally translated: Proverb is a kind of folklore through which
peoples knowledge predictions, advices are experimentalized in such a
plain but meaningful, rhythmed, easy to remember and spread way of
saying.
Tục ngữ là những câu hoàn chỉnh, có ý nghĩa trọn
vẹn, nói lên một nhận xét về tâm lí, một lời phê
phán (khen hay chê), hoặc một câu khuyên nhủ, hoặc
một kinh nghiệm về nhận thức tự nhiên hay xã hội.
(Nguyễn Lân- Từ điển thành ngữ và tục ngữ Việt Nam-
NXB Khoa học xã hội- 1989)
Literally translated: Proverbs are complete sentences, with adequate
meaning, which can be a remark about peoples psychology, a comment
(either a compliment or a criticism), an advice or a knowledge about
nature or society.
Tục ngữ là những câu cực kì bình dị, chắc nịch răn
đời, bằng những điều luân lí sâu xa hoặc tổng kết
ngắn gọn những kinh nghiệm về công việc làm ăn.
(Hoàng Trinh- Đối thoại văn học- NXB Hà Nội- 1986)
Literally translated: Proverbs are simple sentences that may be either
teachings about life with profound ethics or briefly-summarized
experiences about jobs.
Tục ngữ là một câu nói ngắn gọn, có cấu trúc t-ơng
đối ổn định, có cách diễn đạt phúng dụ (ngụ ý) đúc
kết tri thức, kinh nghiệm sống và đạo đức của một
dân tộc. (Lê Đức Trọng- Từ điển giải thích thuật
ngữ ngôn ngữ học- NXB Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh- 1993)
Literally translated: Proverbs are short sayings with quite stable
structure and overtoned way of expression through which a nations
intellect, morality and view toward life are revealed.

Until now, there has not been any definition of proverbs, which is
considered to be the most standard and accurate.
I.2.3. A proposed definition
I.2.3.1. The necessary and sufficient conditions of a proverb definition
According to the theory of definitions, any definition should include the
genus proximum and the differentia specifica, i. e. it should refer to the set
including the item to be defined and to its special characteristics. The conditions
should be necessary and sufficient ones.
Considering the proverbs, any definition should distinguish them from other
similar items, like quotations and aphorism, having single authors, standard
expressions of special fields and simple sentences.
Any definition must include the following recognized and necessary
characteristics of proverbs. Proverbs appear in the form of short sentences,
having a standard text, allowing sometimes some standard variants too, where the
orders of words may be changed or some of the words may be replaced by others
that can be considered synonyms in that particular context. Sometimes additions
and omissions also appear. Being short, it excludes the possibility of including
explicitly the scope and limitation of validity found in scholarly statements.
Proverbs have in common knowledge no known author or literacy
source. Proper research can and does discover that a considerable part of the
well-known proverbs may be traced back e.g. in Europe to Greco-Roman classics
and the Hebrew and Greek Bible, (Taylor 1931. p.52-65 ), e.g. One swallow
does not make a summer to Aristotle, He that sows the wind, will reap the
whirlwind to the book of Hosea in the old Testament, Time is money was
coined by Benjamin Franklin in 1748. In the Far-East the literary sources are
mainly the Chinese classics, the Historical Records (Shi Ji), the Book of Zhuang
Zi and the Confucian Analects (Lun Yu), and in part to some Sanskrit classic,
like the Panchatantra, the Nirvana Sutra etc (Paczolay 1994. p.135). In the
process of folklorization the sources have fallen into oblivion and in due time-
sometimes in a slightly changed form- the quotations became genuine proverbs.

Proverbs have a currency; they are known and often quoted in a small or
large region in one or several linguistic communities or in a part of such a
community. They may be known in several languages and continents, i. e. they
are internationally disseminated as Mieder put it (Mieder 1991. p.155.) but
sometimes they can be found only in one region or dialect of a linguistic
community. According to the size of the area where a proverb is known, we may
distinguish universal, regional (e. g. regional European, Far Eastern or Black-
African) and local proverbs (Pactrolay 1996).
Proverbs have a history; they “come and go” (Mielder 1991. p.155). Their
existence is related to a certain period of time (t), starting with the first known
use or recording. In historical terms, it is a “terminus ante quem” if no author can
be detected, e. g. if the first recording includes the remark: “… as the well-known
proverb puts it.” Part of the Biblical ones also belong to this category. It may also
be, however, that it is a “terminus post quem” if it is a folklorized quotation, like
“Time is money”. On the other hand it is also well known that several once
popular proverbs have fallen into oblivion or their use became restricted to one
region of the linguistic community.
On the level of abstraction (A) proverbs (pv) represent an abstract meaning
or abstract idea (AI) known to the users. In the case of metaphoric proverbs this
is implied. E. g. in case of proverb “Do not look at a gift horse in the mouth” it
may be “One should not criticize a present” or at a higher level of abstraction:
“In return for good will do not return an offence”. In case of maxim-type
proverbs this abstract idea is identical with the text of the proverb, like “Do as
you would be done by” or “Every beginning is hard”.
Due to the ignorance of the implied meaning (abstract idea), those who
know the text only, may misunderstand a proverb. E. g. a Hungarian proverb puts
that “It is better to fear than to be frightened (by surprise) – Jobb fÐlni, mint
megijedni- the meaning of which is the same as that of the English proverb
“Forewarned, forearmed”. Once somebody who knew only the text of the
proverb maintained that it is a bad proverb, as it is a bad thing to fear.

In some cases, there is no doubt about the meaning of a proverb, like “All
that glitters is not gold” but on the other hand in Europe the proverb “To close
the stable/barn door after the horse has been stolen”- dating back to Medieval
Latin- indicates a belated, futile action. The implied meaning of the
corresponding 2000 years old Chinese, Korean and Japanese proverb “To mend
the pen after the sheep was lost/stolen” is that “It is not late to repair the fold
even after some of the sheep have been found lost/stolen (Paczolay 1994
p.28/2.5), i. e. “Better late than never”.
A proverb may refer to some typical general, or typical rare field of human
conditions, attitudes or actions, like “As you make your bed so you must lie on it”
or “A bad shooter may sometimes hit the mark” Proverbs of special fields, arts
and trade, like agriculture, weather etc are excluded, but they may become
genuine “general” proverbs if they acquire a general meaning related to human
conditions, like “Let the shoemaker stick to his last”. Beside the implied
meaning there is the equally important implied scope and limitation of the
validity (area b) known to the users. They well know e. g. when one or the other
of the “contradicting proverbs” is valid, corresponding to the concrete conditions
(Clothes make the man – Clothes do not make the man. – Strike the ion till it is
hot – Everything comes to him who waits. – etc.) (Paczolay 1996) In a few cases
the scope and limitation is not implied, but it is included in the text, e. g. “All
that glitters is not gold” includes the possibility that something that glitters is in
fact gold.
I.2.3.2. The proposed definition
The proposed definition: A proverb (pv) is a short, standard, spoken,
written or stored statement (sometimes allowing for one or a few standard
variants too and sometimes in a poetic form), having an evident or implied
general meaning (or general idea) (GI) related to a particular typical common or
typical rare field of general human conditions (hc), attitudes or actions, with
implied proper scope and limitation of validity. The reference to the general
meaning/idea may be direct (maxim-type proverb) or implied (metaphoric

proverb). It has a currency (cr), i. e. it is well known and often quoted in a period
of time (t) in a certain small or large language community (lc) (or in a part of
the community), sometimes in a short form (the rest being implied). In common
knowledge it has no known author or literary source.
A short form of the definition: a proverb is a short standard statement,
having on evident or implied general meaning, related to a certain typical field of
general human conditions, attitudes or actions, where it is valid with implied
limitations. It is known and often quoted in a period of time in a certain language
community, sometimes in a short form (the rest being implied). In common
knowledge it has no known author or literary source.
A formal description:
pv = (short, standard statement)
cr,

t, lc
+ (implied general meaning)
hc
+
(implied field of validity) + (no known source)
 Note: If the definition is intended to include “special”, like agricultural,
weather, legal, medical etc. proverbs too, then the text should read:
…general or special human conditions, attitudes or actions, or other
conditions.
I.2.4. The main types of proverbs
It was mentioned previously that the proverbs may be metaphoric and
maxim type ones, to which proverbial phrases or comparisons can be added.
The mental process taking place during the application of metaphoric
proverbs (concrete-abstract-concrete), maxim-type proverbs (concrete-abstract)
and proverbial comparisons where the general idea is replaced by a general
characteristic (GC) like “of little value” (Not worth a straw), “flat” (Flat as a

pancake) “Only a little part is revealed” (A tip of iceberg) can be represented as
follows:
GI GI = pv GC
A-plane
(abstract)




B-plane
(concrete)

b
1
= concrete case b
1
= concrete case b
1
=something flat
b
2
= pv= Do not look at a gift GI=pv= Do as you would b
2
= pv=
horse in the mouth be done by Flat as a pancake
GI= One should not criticise a present GC= flat
I.2.5. A note on the content of proverbs
As the basic experience of mankind on human behaviour is the same from
time immemorial, a considerable part of proverbs even in independent cultures
express the same basic ideas. Some examples: reciprocity and the lack of it,

cause and effect relationship, appearance and reality, related and unrelated
phenomena, human errors and virtues etc. The number of common proverbs is
greatly increased by cultural contacts, involving the appearance of loan-proverbs.

b

b
1

b
2
=pv

b

b
1

b


b
1

b
2
=pv

In Europe, 106 proverbs were found to exist in 28 to 54 languages of the
continent, being present in all its main geographic regions. In Chinese, Korean

and Japanese so far 169 common proverbs were found, some of them having
close equivalents in Vietnamese, Thai and Malay too. Some European proverbs
like “Time is money” have since made their way into Far-Eastern languages too.
I.3. Differences between proverbs and other related terms
For “better understanding and using English proverbs”, differences
between proverbs, idioms and “ca dao” are also mentioned because in proverbs
“there is a part consisting of the ambiguous sentences”, very similar/close to both
idioms and “ca dao”. <Quoted from Dictionary of Literary Terms- Tõ ®iÓn
thuËt ng÷ v¨n häc- Lª B¸ H¸n (chñ biªn)- Natioal
University Publishing House- 1997>.
I.3.1. Differences between proverbs and idioms
Nowadays, the problem of how to distinguish proverbs from idioms is still
on hot debate. Basing on definitions of proverbs mentioned above and through
the process of collecting and analyzing, I distinguish proverbs from idioms
according to two main criteria: content and function.
I.3.1.1. Content
Proverbs are complete sentences, with adequate meanings, which express a
remark; a prediction, an experience or a moral while idioms are “only a part of a
sentence, or a phrase, quite stable. Idioms do not express a complete meaning or
a remark like proverbs, they show a concept with interesting and attracting
forms” <Dictionary of Literary Terms- Lª B¸ H¸n- Hanoi National University
Publishing House- 1997>.
We can see this difference clearly through the following examples:
1. In Vietnamese, the idiom “§Ñp nh- tiªn” (As beautiful as a fairy)
simply generalizes a nature but the proverb “§Ñp nh- tiªn kh«ng
tiÒn còng Õ” (As beautiful as a fairy but having no money is
worthless) generalizes the law of life.
2. In English, the idiom “Birds of a feather” only tells a fact, while, the
proverb “Birds of a feather flock together” generalizes a certain law of
life: those who share the same opinions, the same characteristics will

easily become close friends.
I.3.1.2. Function
Proverbs have the informing and educating function <bring people
knowledge, a lesson in life> but idioms do not have this function. They only
show an event. Lets have a quick look at the example below to understand more
clearly about this difference:
1. The idiom To put all ones eggs in one basket only tells an action
while the proverb Dont put all your eggs in one basket contains an
advice.
2. The idiom Bình chân nh- vại only shows an attitude but the
proverb Cháy nhà hàng xóm bình chân nh- vại means a
criticism and a reminder.
Briefly, content and function are two main criteria to distinguish proverbs
from idioms.
I.3.2. Differences between proverbs and ca dao
In English, there exists no kind of Folklore as ca dao. However, in
Vietnamese, sometimes it is very difficult to identify the bond of proverbs and
ca dao.
We can easily realize a proverb when it is a short and succinct sentence and
it lies on one line.
For example:
ở hiền gặp lành
Cha mẹ sinh con trời sinh tính
Tin bợm mất bò
ở sao cho vừa lòng ng-ời
But when the proverbs exist under the forms of the six-eight meters (a poem
in which the lines are alternatively of six and eight feet), the distinction is
generally very difficult as the characteristics of proverbs decrease much and the
characteristics of ca dao increase much. (According to Nguyễn Thái Hoà-
Cấu trúc và Thi pháp Việt Nam- Nxb Khoa học Hà Nội-

1997).
For example:
- ở hiền thì lại gặp lành
Những ng-ời nhân đức trời dành
phần cho.
- Sinh con ai nỡ sinh lòng
Mua d-a ai biết trong lòng quả
d-a.
- Tin bợm mất bò
Tin bạn mất vợ nằm co một mình
- ở sao cho vừa lòng ng-ời
ở rộng ng-ời c-ời, ở hẹp ng-ời
chê.
Nowadays, the criteria that many people base on to distinguish the bond
between proverbs and ca dao are:
- Proverbs are inclined to reason, ca dao are inclined to emotion.
- Proverbs are tied with daily sayings of people; ca dao are tied with
diễn x-ớng <they are recited to express the feelings, the emotion
of the singers>.
Moreover, to distinguish them accurately and clearly, we have to put them
in the concrete contexts. When they are recited to express the feelings of the
singers, they are considered ca dao but when they are mentioned to tell about
an experience, a remark or the objective reason, they are exactly proverbs.
I.4. Characteristics of proverbs
The characteristics of proverbs will be analysed through three main points.
I.4.1. Forms:
Proverbs are short utterances (short sayings or phrases). Most of the
proverbs have rhyme (only a small amount of proverbs do not have
rhyme). On average, a proverb often contains four to ten words.
For example:

Better late than never Blood is thicker than water
<Muộn còn hơn không> <Một giọt máu đào hơn
ao n-ớc lã>
Càng đông, càng vui Ng-u tầm
ng-u, mã tầm mã
<The more, the merrier> <Birds of a feather flock together>
However, there are some long proverbs, which contain at least ten
words.
For example:
A man is as old as he feels and a woman is as old as she looks
<Đàn ông già là do cảm giác, đàn bà già
hiện trên nét mặt>
Siêng đi tát, nhác đi câu, muốn cho đầy bầu
thì đi nhủi.

Mây kéo xuôi cầm gầu tát n-ớc, mây kéo
ng-ợc cầm cuốc phá bờ
<No English equivalents>
However short or long it may be, each proverb is a sentence.
- Proverbs have a quite stable structure. They hardly change under any
circumstance.
- Proverbs are not only pithy but also poetical (they have rhyme and
overtoned way of expression).
I.4.2. Content:
Proverbs appear to have adequate meaning (through which peoples
knowledge, predictions, advice are experimentalized in such a plain but
meaningful way of saying).
For example:
English proverbs:
Birds of a feather flock together. (knowledge)

<Ng-u tầm ng-u, mã tầm mã>
Blood is thicker than water. (advice)
<Một giọt máu đào hơn ao n-ớc lã>
Vietnamese proverbs:
Bán anh em xa mua láng giềng gần.
(advice)
<Better is a neighbour that is near than a brother>
Già kén, kẹn hom.
(knowledge)
<The more you make your choice, the more you get into trouble>
I.4.3. Function:
- Proverbs have informative function (they tell us about a certain fact of
life, a remark or a prediction).
For example:
In English proverbs:
A certain fact of life:


The more, the merrier
<Càng đông, càng vui>


A man can die once
<Đời ng-ời chỉ chết một lần>
In Vietnamese proverbs:
A certain fact of life:
Yêu nên tốt, ghét nên xấu
<Faults are thick where love is thin>
Cả thèm, chóng chán
<Hasty love is soon hot and soon cold>

In English proverbs:
A remark:
Measure for measure
<Ăn miếng, trả miếng>
There is life in the cold dog yet
<Gừng càng già càng cay>
In Vietnamese proverbs:
A remark:
Ch-a học bò đã lo học chạy
<Learn to walk before you run>
Thùng rỗng kêu to
<An empty vessel gives a greater sound than a full barrel>
In English proverbs:
A prediction:
He who laughs best is last.
<C-ời ng-ời chớ có c-ời lâu
C-ời ng-ời hôm tr-ớc hôm sau ng-ời
c-ời>
Diamond cuts diamond.
<Vỏ quýt dày có móng tay nhọn>
In Vietnamese proverbs:
A prediction:
Sinh sự, sự sinh.
<Dont trouble trouble till trouble troubles you>
Dễ đến, dễ đi.
<Easy come, easy go>
- Proverbs also have educational function (they give out ethics, advice or
morals)
For example:
English proverbs:

Prevention is better than cure.
<Phòng bệnh hơn chữa bệnh>
More haste, less speed.
<Dục tốc bất đạt>
Vietnamese proverbs:
Nhân vô thập toàn.
<He who makes no mistakes makes nothing>
Chớ thấy sáng mà ngỡ là vàng.
<All is not gold that glitters>
- Besides, proverbs are traditiona


CHAPTER II:
FACTORS LEADING TO DIFFICULTIES
IN UNDERSTANDING AND USING ENGLISH PROVERBS

II.1. Difference in culture
II.1.1. Definitions of culture
The word culture has various meanings.
According to The Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary, culture means
art, literature, music and other expression of a particular society or time.
Richard in Dictionary of Languageơ Teaching and Applied Linguistic,
Longman (1996; p. 94) has gone culture is the total set of beliefs, attitudes,
customs, behaviours, social, habits, etc.
In Hudsons opinion, culture is the term used differently by different
anthropologists but always refers to some property of a community, especially
those, which might distinguish it from other communities.
L. White in The Science of Culture considered culture a scientific
category indicating a special field of activity, which exists only in societies of
human beings and its own rules of development.

Above all, Trần Ngọc Thêms definition (in Vietnamese Culture -
1999) is believed to be the most complete one. It is an organic system of material
and spiritual values created and stored up by human beings during the process of
practical activities in the contact between them and their own natural as well as
social environment.
It should be mentioned that there is a close relationship between proverbs
and culture, maintaining they were inextricably related so that you could not
understand or appropriate the one without knowledge of the other.
The word culture has a very broad meaning. Here, we only analyse some
aspects of it related to proverbs.
II.1.2. Differences between English culture and Vietnamese culture
All cultures have certain things in common, in other words, all cultures
have similarities. These similarities may deal with the material aspects of life,
such as shelter or they may involve such non- material activities as maintaining a
government or creating myths. In a recent study, Tr-ơng Ngọc Khanh in
An investigation on some cultural differences on social contacts between
Vietnam and some countries it has relations with shows that elements common
to all cultures include: (1) technology, (2) institutions, (3) languages and (4) the
arts.
Besides, differences also exist as a- matter- of- course cross- cultural
factors. And these differences are exactly one of the factors leading to difficulties
in understanding and using English proverbs of Vietnamese intermediate students
of English.
Why do differences exist as a matter of course cross cultural
factors? The answer is simple and clear. People of different countries differ
greatly from each other. Moreover, different regions in the same country are
made up of people with their own customs, conventions and also beliefs that
differ from each other greatly. This results in the fact that there is a big variety in
culture among countries in the world.
There are two main types of culture. They are agricultural and nomadic

cultures. Though both the former, located in the East including Vietnam and the
latter, belonging to the West, including England, are now no longer completely
agricultural or nomadic; they still have a great impact on peoples socio-
linguistic life.
For example:
In agricultural regions, buffalo is the most common symbol. We, therefore,
can see many proverbs appear this kind of cattle.
Con trâu là đầu cơ nghiệp
<Literary translated: Buffalo is the most valuable thing in the family>
Trâu chậm uống n-ớc đục.
<The early birds catch the worm>
While in the West, the culture of which is nomadic, horse is to govern this
position. Followings are some examples
Zeal without knowledge is a runaway horse.
<NhiÖt t×nh mµ kh«ng cã kiÕn thøc th× nh- ngùa bÊt
kham>
You can take a horse to the water but you can‟t wait him drink
<Anh cã thÓ d¾t ngùa xuèng n-íc nh-ng kh«ng thÓ
b¾t nã uèng n-íc>
That‟s a horse of another colour.
<§ã lµ chuyÖn kh¸c>
Especially, there is one specific example of this difference. That is:
“Tr©u buéc ghÐt tr©u ¨n”
We can see clearly that this proverb uses the symbol “buffalo” but its
English equivalent is “Tied horse hates free horse”. The symbol “horse” has
taken the symbol “buffalo”‟s position.
Thus, this difference between agricultural and nomadic culture is one of the
main factors leading to difficulties in understanding and using English proverbs.
II.2. Differences in using metaphor in English and Vietnamese proverbs
Most proverbs (both Vietnamese and English proverbs) use metaphor

expression. The Oxford Advanced Learner‟s Dictionary defines “metaphor” the
imaginative use of a word or a phrase to describe somebody or something as
another object in order to show that they have the same qualities and to make the
description more forceful.
And Nguyen Hoa, in his “An Introduction to Semantics”, shows
“metaphor” is the transference of meaning name” from one object to another
based on similarity between these two “objects” i. e. we can call one object by
the name of another because we compare these objects and find some common
features between them. This is the association of similarity.
For example, a cunning person is often referred to a fox; an aggressively
and unpleasantly behaving woman is as a bitch- a female dog used with negative
connotations.
In short, in a metaphor, no function words are used; something is described
by stating another thing with which it can be compared.
It can be withdrawn from those mentioned above that in a metaphor,
symbolism is the way one thing (often concrete) is said to imply one other thing.
Fox is just a symbol for one person‟s characteristic instead of saying that person
is cunning, secretly tricky. It is symbolism that makes metaphor a lively and
beautiful art of expression by word.
Hence, most proverbs choose metaphor expression. Many animals and
things exist in proverbs instead of human beings and their feelings. Many
proverbs of this kind can be seen:
In Vietnamese:
Ng-u tầm ng-u, mã tầm mã
It means that those who share the same opinions, in lifestyles, will easily
become friends.
Gừng càng già càng cay
It means the old are the most experienced.
Một giọt máu đào hơn ao n-ớc lã
It means brothers are always dearer and closer than friends and neighbours.

Similarly, in English, we have:
Birds of a feather flock together
<Vietnamese equivalent: Ng-u tầm ng-u, mã tầm mã>
Every bird loves to hear himself sing
<Vietnamese equivalent: Văn mình, vợ ng-ời>
It means, People always consider them and theirs are the best.
In all the proverbs mentioned above, the symbol animal is used to show
human beings.
II.2.1. English and Vietnamese animal system in proverbs in comparison
II.2.1.1. Animal components in English
Many researchers have done the work to find out how many animal
components used metaphorically in English and they have shown that there are
seventy-five. They are presented in alphabetical order as follows:
Ant, ape, ass
Bat, bear, beast, beaver, bee, beetle, bird, bitch, bug, bull, butterfly
Calf, camel, cat, chicken, cock, cow, coot, crocodile, crow
Devil, dog, donkey, dragon, dove, duck
Eagle, eel, elephant
Fish, fly, flea, fox, fowl, frog
Ghost, goat, goose
Hare, horse, hen, hawk, hound
Kitten
Lamb, lark, lion